XBradTC

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XBradTC

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Sailors test flight suit for all hands, new coveralls

Two new types of flame-resistant uniforms are being tested by fleet sailors — and one prototype significantly boosts the cool factor.It is a dark blue flight suit designed to be worn by deckplate sailors that officials hope fits better and lasts longer than the current flame-resistant variant of coveralls. The flight suit includes all of…

Two new types of flame-resistant uniforms are being tested by fleet sailors — and one prototype significantly boosts the cool factor.It is a dark blue flight suit designed to be worn by deckplate sailors that officials hope fits better and lasts longer than the current flame-resistant variant of coveralls. The flight suit includes all of the pockets, torso zipper, and Velcro closures on the waist, wrists, and ankles that pilots and aircrews have come to know and love.”Yeah, I’m looking forward to seeing how that shapes up,” said Machinist Mate 1st Class (SW) Jonathan Griffith, one of the sailors participating in the wear test. “Because I don’t have a centralized office, I usually carry a lot of items in my pockets — tools, papers, books — as I walk around throughout the day. Pockets would be a huge help.”

Source: Sailors test flight suit for all hands, new coveralls

 

Everybody wants to look TOPGUN.

It’s rather amazing that the Navy has spent something like 5 years developing a Flame Resistant coverall. Which they had to do because they designed the super stupid “blueberry” camouflage patterned work uniform, which also just happened to turn out to be highly flammable!

**Quartermaster’s comments about dungarees and chambray shirts if 5… 4… 3…**

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  1. mushdogs

    Dungarees and chambray shirts were good enough for me, my father, my grandfather…

    Liked by 1 person

  2. Shaun Evertson

    Don’t like the big steel zippers. Do these folks have any idea that flame is fire and fire is hot?

    Like

  3. scottthebadger

    The cotton dungarees and chambrays provided a decent level of flame resistance for the PACFLT sailors that trounced the Naihon Kaigun.

    Like

  4. Quartermaster

    Flash fires, yes. The old cotton uniforms, however, would burn. I wonder how many lives could have been saved if nomex had been available and used in shipboard uniforms in 1944.

    I liked seafarers. The dungarees were denim, but the shirts were cotton polyester. I wondered how well they would stand up to any real fire. Later I learned – not very well.

    Like

  5. Pave Low John

    Two words (in my best Sterling Archer voice):

    Danger Zone…. 🙂

    Like

  6. Jeff Gauch

    The FFE’s have even bigger steel zippers. You need to close the garment somehow, and steel zippers are pretty much the only method that won’t melt.

    Like

  7. LT Rusty

    Phrasing, Cyril!

    Like

  8. cwej@msn.com

    Flight suit designs are Nomex, and thus flame resistent. Check. The designs appear not to sport nonsensical camouflage for non-existent environments. Check. Nomex, as employed in actual flight suits anyway, are lightweight, and thus relatively cool, and reasonably durable. Check. Flight suit designs offer good range of motion. Check. I would expect durability testing to account for multiple washings in ship laundry conditions, and reasonable exposure to grease and oil, resistance to tearing in typical shipboard crew conditions, sailor affordable lifecycle costs, considering initial costs to sailors and a reasonable replacement frequency. Also, they, like actual flight suites, the suite should not constrict swimming for man-overboard. Craft practical and complete requirements and test to those requirements and this should work. It’s not a freaking fashion show, so do it right this time, ok, Millington, NAVSUP, or whomever?

    Like

  9. Esli

    I hope they are more durable than army combat vehicle crewman nomex. Two weeks of gunnery and every stitch of Velcro falls out and the junk starts flapping.

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  10. Quartermaster

    Why did you have to bring up TOPGUN?

    Like

  11. Owen Malone

    As a yardbird I’ve always thought a flight suit or coveralls in nomex was the correct answer at sea. I would just add re enforced webbing and a grab handle over the shoulders. This would allow for moving an injured sailor by dragging or moving someone up a escape trunk with a line instead of a basket.

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  12. NaCly Dog

    I like the idea of the extra webbing for lifting, but not as part of the uniform. Can it be put it in the escape trunks or next to EEBDs? Dragging seems to be of limited use at sea. Too much non-skid and deck grating, and too many knee-knockers.

    Add reflective strips on the shoulders for visibility in MOB situations.

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  13. xbradtc

    The Army CVCU (modeled on the flight suit) has the webbing he’s describing. It’s hidden under a velcro flap along the back, and is very unintrusive. Pop the velcro, grab the webbing yoke, and haul ’em out of the hatch.

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  14. NaCly Dog

    Sounds good. Thanks XBradTC.

    Like

  15. Jeff Gauch

    One point on the camouflage: It was never supposed to blend into an environment, it was supposed to cause dirt, grease, and paint spatter to blend into the garment.

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  16. Quartermaster

    Hauling someone out of a armored vehicle after it’s been knocked out requires the crewman be wearing the webbing. You ain’t going to be able to get in the racks to get some device to mount on the casualty to get him out. I thought the reinforced coverall was a good idea for a Tanker’s uniform. Maybe for a pilot as well.

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